Owner and Guide- Jacob Zirkle (Jake) moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1989 with his family.  At the age of 7 he was given his first fly rod by his grandfather, an Orvis Clear Water 7wt, and it didn’t take long for the sport to take over his life.  Over the years he has fished many rivers, streams, and lakes in South Central Alaska fine tuning his skills as an elite fly fisherman and guide. During Jake’s career as a professional guide he has watched outfitters and lodges push aside what matters most to him, the clients. With the dream of turning his passion into a lifetime career, he decided to start his own guide company, Alaska Fly Water Guides in 2004. He started the company with one goal in mind, to make sure clients come first and trophy fish a close second. 

He also aspires to spend a lot more time fishing around the world while searching for the one place to spend his winter months.  After the 06 season, Jake spent a month just north of Cabo San Lucas, running the beaches for Roosters and Jacks.  While the best catch of his life, an Alaskan girl named Amber managed to squeeze in their wedding.  The morning after the wedding he was back in a panga at 5:30am chasing Roosters with his father and best man.

Jake discovered and began learning how to cast a float rod with a center pin reel and swing a spey rod in the winter of 06.  It introduced him to new fisheries and possibilites for his clients.  Last fall, he along with Mike Perusse of GLoomis, and the World Wide Angler crew were featured in an upcoming centerpin video.

Drifter a.k.a. The Sandwich Snatcher is Jake’s 7 year old Black Lab, and favorite fishing partner.  He is a master in the boat and lives to ride on the bow while looking for the next hot fishing spot. 

Chinook (King) Salmon start running the third week of May and continue through the end of July when the season closes.  We fish for them out of a drift boat and raft during the early part of the season.  Once July hits you will see us chasing them on the Lower Kenai with heavy terminal tackle.  If you want to land the next world record then this is it.  Let us assist you in getting your next wall hanger for the office or trophy room.

Sockeye (Red) Salmon season starts June 11, when the first run races toward the tributaries of the Kenai River where they await to spawn.  The second run starts around the 15th of July and continues through the first part of August.  Limits start at 3 fish per day until the escapment goal is reached then the limit jumps to 6 fish per day.  If you love a hard fought battle or the tastiest salmon out there, then let us help you bring them to the bank.

Cohoe (Silver) Salmon begin flowing into the rivers toward the end of July and continue strong through October when the season closes.  We will target this fly crazed fish starting mid August, although our favorite time begins the first week of October.  Cast into undisturbed pools full of magnum silvers, while surrounded by snow capped mountains.  We can't think of a better time to see the real Alaska. 

Rainbow Trout can be found in large populations and unbelievable sizes.  Love to swing large nasty flies with big sticks?  Come visit us in April, October, and November.  If dry flies and nymphs are your game come up in June and July.  Around the 15th of August, we start fishing beads behind spawning salmon using a nymph style with indictators, long leaders, and hand painted beads to match the hatch.  Now offering clear water float trips from May through August just north of Anchorage.

Dolly Varden are a species that get over looked by most trout guys.  They may not jump like Bows, but they put up one hell of a battle.  The Kenai Peninsula has both resident and sea run Dollies.  Starting mid July you can find them camped out behind the spawning salmon.  In late September through October the colors become brilliant.  Have kids or a wife looking to get into the sport?  These bull dogs are willing to help. 

Steelhead fishing in South Central Alaska can be very productive.  Hooking a 28-36 inch fish in a small gin color river with lots of log jams becomes very addicting once you give it a try.  There are many days where a good angler could catch up to 10 fish.  If you've never landed one of these bows on steriods you need to.  It will change your life forever.  From around the 15th of September through the end of October we're hunting ocean chrome.